Fog City

Well you guessed it, the rain has returned. I'm sure I should feel guilty for once again staying indoors. But after a life time of responsible labor, I believe I've earned the ability to lounge, in my robe, on the couch, watching movies, pausing only to scrounge around the refrigerator for another snack. Oops, Christine just returned from judging scholarship candidates at USF, and brought, to my surprise and delight, a steaming hot pizza. She's dope! Time to wallow in caloric decadence, mmm mmm good. Later...

Fog City

I bought a new painting, oil on canvas, by Matias Salas. I'll try and do it justice by taking it's picture and posting it. It has a culinary theme, obviously, and I first laid eyes on it, at the Studio Gallery, one of my favorite places, to bask in comfortable art.
I've been rolling along without a care in the world, well maybe a few, none so grave as to interfere with my leisure pursuits. I have a minor film project in its embryonic stage and a memoir idea in chaotic jig saw puzzle form. As long as the weather remains forbidding, I can watch movies and eat popcorn. Cheers!

Fog City

I'm trying to upload a short video I made. Eventually it should take the form of a documentary, but that's wishful thinking. The gist is urban behavior, specifically the scavengers who rummage through garbage bins, collecting recyclables. I watch two ladies in the neighborhood who have refined their system and maximized their efforts.

City Scavengers from Tom Raher on Vimeo.

This is my experimental short, which I plan to make into a short documentary in the future. It deals with urban behavior in tough times. I'm waiting for a real camera provided by my ever attentive son, so it may be awhile!

Fog City

Well a week of steady rain has subsided. Of course the common theme is, "we need it," and we did. The mountains got a ton of snow, which bodes well for the spring run off. Being housebound for most of last week coincided nicely with the start of March Madness. Consequently I was obliged to watch championship basketball from mid-morning until mid-night, hardly noticing the extreme weather outside. I should feel guilty for such a waste of time, but I don't. I don't hold time in such high regard as most, and I'm sure that is a personal flaw. I'll dwell on it when I get a moment.
Today the sky cleared and the brisk winds dried the landscape. We celebrated our St. Patrick's Day luncheon at the SF Lawn Bowling Club, consisting first, of a draw game of 14 ends, followed by a festive corned beef and cabbage feed. Everyone was in fine spirits, and the majority wore a bit of the green, honoring their psychological connection with the Irish in us all. Well sports fans, my recliner beckons for one final b-ball game before the weekend ends.

Tom's Art

Fog City

There seems to be a serious gap in blog postings. Why? I think it's the post holiday blahs. All my natural rhythms, creatively speaking, were compromised. I'm sensing a resurgence of focus. This sensibility is manifested first physically, with a hint of exercising activity, and then with a clear mind tasks are completed. I'll admit our very temperate winter weather is a major factor in a timely recovery. There are very few things, like warm sunshine, for much needed motivation.
The holidays lasted over a month. It is indeed a test of endurance. Albeit each event was joyful and memorable. This positive characteristic is attributable to each and every family member, whose only goal was to share love. So I had little opportunity to express my cantankerousness.
My generous in-laws, Larry and Linda Brooks, invited everyone to their annual Hanukkah extravaganza. It's a fantastic food fest, surrounding the celebratory traditions. Larry has instituted a Hanukkup golf tournament, which is my highlight of the weekend. All the lads joyfully participate, but there is a slight undertow of serious competition. A traveling trophy (Hanukkup) is presented to the winner. It is a wonderful day of golf!
The conclusion of the long season was a lazy day at my house. After Christmas Mass, the local clan staggered over for Christine's nontraditional afternoon meal. We decided against another bite of turkey or ham. Instead we wallowed in the comfort of endless Sloppy Joes and chips. It worked for me!
There you have a partial and brief catch-up. Stay tuned.

Fog City

Where have I been? Recently or presently, they are the same for the most part. I cling to now, but time stretches and bends, until remembering is difficult. So I'm circling, constantly circling, inside the confines of my cranium. My mind sails like a very slow rotating tornado, much of life's debris sticks, good and bad. While it's circling I gauge and select what's pleasing and store it. Of the debris that's less desirable, I allow it to spin out and back into the never ending flow of flotsam. Of course time re-asserts itself and the now, presently, becomes recently, and I have to start again, adjusting, selecting, detaching, waiting and wondering. These processes are continuous and sometimes I have to put my foot down and say no, no more. Distractions help, like a round of golf, or a game of lawn bowling, even a walk to the ice cream shop. Here I'm lucky, grateful, to be retired, because I can ponder while wandering and give new meaning to doing nothing. Yet circling. And when I share time with my granddaughter I realize the circle has encompassed her, and I know I'm blessed!